Tragedy struck eight foreign students today when they went swimming at the main beach in Campsbay. The incident occurred at 16:00 when two of the bathers encountered some strong streams off the world famous beach.
Local NSRI services dispatched ER24 paramedics to the scene when one of the bathers, a French male in his mid twenties, exited the water in a state. He informed the emergency personnel that his friend and fellow student, a South Korean male also in his mid twenties, was still in the water. The on scene paramedics then promptly dispatched the ER24 Discovery Medicopter to assist with the search of the missing bather.
With Helicopters still circling the skies above Campsbay the French student was treated for exhaustion and symptoms common for a near drowning victim. After being treated at the scene the student was taken to hospital still not knowing what has become of his missing friend. The search for the missing bather was called off when bad light conditions forced the Medicopter to return to base. Local NSRI services are still searching for the missing student.
With summer around the corner and more bathers flocking to the beaches around South Africa, ER24 strongly urges beachcombers to exercise caution when entering the water and to swim in the designated areas marked out by lifeguards.
Andre Visser
ER24